2008 Australian Grand Prix

In the opening race of the 2008 Formula One Season, only 6 of the 22 drivers finished the action packed Australian GP. To Top it all off, no driver with a Ferrari engine crossed the finish line under the checker flag. For the Ferrari team to only grab 1 point in the opening race has to be a disappointment. Felipe Massa retired from the race after completing 29 laps with an engine problem. Then 24 laps later both Ferrari's were in the garage after Kimi Raikkonen's engine failed with 5 laps remaining. Unlike Ferrari, Williams had to be very pleased with their results. They finished the race with both drivers in points with Nico Rosberg reaching the podium for the first time in his young F1 career. Among the highlights of the race were Fernando Alonso, and Heikki Kovalainen battling it out over the last few laps. Kovalainen seemed to have the better finish after he passed Alonso at the tail end of the 57 lap but on the straightaway it appeared that Kovalainen slowed down and Alonso jumped ahead of him and was able to hold off Kovalainen for 4th place. This Grand Prix had to the most eventful race in recent years with over half of the field receiving DNF.

Results

1. Lewis Hamilton

2. Nick Heidfield

3. Nico Rosberg

4. Fernando Alonso

5. Heikki Kovalainen

6. Kazuki Nakajima

7. Sebastian Bourdias

8. Kimi Raikkonen

Ret. Robert Kubica

Ret. Timo Glock

Ret. Takuma Sato

Ret. Nelsinho Piquet

Ret. Felipe Massa

Ret. David Coulthard

Ret. Jarno Trulli

Ret. Adrian Sutil

Ret. Mark Webber

Ret. Jenson Button

Ret. Anthony Davidson

Ret. Sebastian Vettel

Ret. Giancarlo Fisichella

DSQ. Rubens Barrichello